$30,000 Stipend for New Graduates in STEM Fields, Interested in Teaching

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Woodrow Wilson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have some exciting news for those who've recently graduated (or will by June of 2011) with a degree in a STEM field (science, tech, engineering, or math), who are interested in pursuing their masters (with help in the form of a $30,000 stipend)... in exchange for 3 years teaching at a high-need school  The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship will award qualifying candidates with a $30,000 stipend towards an intensive master's degree.

In order to qualify for this amazing opportunity, you must have earned your undergraduate degree in a STEM field by next June and have graduated with a minimum 3.0. Additionally...  you must show a strong level of intent to commit to this program and follow it through to the end. Imagine the difference you could make in the life (and future) of children!

As a participant in this program you'll complete a field-based master's degree in teacher education and commit to teach for 3 years at the high-need school.If you're interested in helping fill the void of qualified STEM teachers in many of our nation's schools... the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship may be for you. Want to learn more?


Follow the following link to learn more, and apply to be a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow! The deadline is tomorrow, September 1st... if you know someone who might be interested in this program, share it today! Visit: www.wwteachingfellowship.org and watch the inspiring video below!

When We Forget Who God Is

I've had a really rough weekend... not to sound whiny or anything, but my family has been putting me through the ringer lately and this morning I was in pain. This in turn led me to feeling rather sorry for myself. As I drove to church alone... I felt disrespected, unappreciated, and misunderstood nearly the entire 10 minute drive to service, then I suddenly had an awakening.. It suddenly hit me that I'd forgotten who God is. I then realized that I do this a lot.

What do I mean? It's so simple, yet so HUGE at the same time. God created everything... the Universe and everything in it. Space and matter... all life, all things for His glory... including me and you. He can handle our stuff. He can handle my stuff. I went from feeling so alone and pitiful to feeling an amazing peace... within minutes the peace turned to joy. My spirit did a complete 180 and I smiled as I entered the church. Considering only minutes before I blurted out at the top of my lungs... "I give up Lord... I can't do this anymore!". That is the power of God. He suddenly reminded me of all the gifts He'd given me... even within just the last week.

If I really trust God is who He says he is... I really don't need to wallow in despair. I've been struggling with a very personal family issue now for years and He has yet to deliver me from those chains, but He's never abandoned me. He's sent AMAZING friends my way who've filled my life with laughter, companionship, and understanding. I'm overwhelmed with joy when I sit back and realize how He's blessed me as I give Him all the credit for EVERYTHING I have and all that I am. I've grown so much over the last few years, I'm more confident, happier, more outgoing and just a few years ago I learned out to hug a stranger without fear. This is God. This is Him with me, growing me, loving me. Knowing He's in everything... meaning He's in ALL my business, means He does have His hands on my biggest prayer request. He hears me. He's been hearing me, but for whatever reason I have to wait... I hear you Lord... I do.

So, I get it... today. I might forget tomorrow... but I get it today! God is good and He spoke to me today. I honestly felt Him awaken my spirit. This is how God spoke to me. He touched my soul and suddenly I had hope again. What's more... this burden isn't mine... it's His. As ALL things belong to Him. He'll carry me just as He always has and I will continue to rest in His arms.

Children and Chores

Another guest post from our friend at...
www.ordinary-time.blogspot.com

It’s that time of year when I spend a lot of time getting things in order for the new school year.  I make schedules, I assign curriculum, I buy books and school supplies, and I reassign chores.  That last item could be the most essential key to a good school year.  Living and learning at home can be a messy business.  If I were to try to keep that chaos at bay all by myself, it would be a short-lived effort.  I just can’t do it; everyone must pitch-in.  After a year of doing the same jobs everyone is ready for a change; both because they have mastered the current tasks and because they would like to try something new.  Here are some of the things I try to keep in mind as I shuffle people and jobs into a new order:

·        Be aware of children’s time constraints.  While my older children are certainly capable of doing the most, they also have the most outside commitments.  With my daughter taking a college level class this year, I try to be aware of how much time she actually has and plan accordingly.  She won’t have many day to day chores, but will have a list of things she’s responsible for on Saturdays when she has time.

·        Even the littlest can help out.  They may not do the most thorough job, but you are investing in the future.  Some of my favorite jobs for the youngest set are sweeping with a small broom and dustpan, dusting floorboards, and keeping board books and toys in their baskets.

·        You need to teach them how to do the job.  As nice as it would be to be able to tell a child to clean the bathroom or dust the living room, unless you help them the first several times, they won’t know how to do it.  Sure you could do it faster all by yourself, but that’s not really the point.  Once again you are investing in the future, both yours when you don’t have to help anymore and theirs because they will have learned a new skill.

·        You have to check that the job is done and done correctly.  And when it isn’t done correctly, call the child back and have them do it again.  Don’t let sloppy work pass.

·        Checklists are great for visual learners.  This is sometime I need to start again, since over the past month or so I find I have been having to do a bit too much reminding.

·        Children are often capable of more than we as parents think they are.  Give them a challenge.  In order to avoid having my older children do the bulk of the work, I try to assign a chore to the youngest children possible, even if it is a bit of a stretch for them.

·        Finally, if everyone falls off the chore wagon, don’t be afraid to start all over again.  It takes practice to make chores a habit, both for the child doing them and for the parent checking them.  Just because you had a bad week (or month), doesn’t mean you can’t start again.  Apologize for letting things get out of hand and announce you’re starting from scratch.

Facebook, Twitter, Your Dream Phone and Boost Mobile

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm in the market for a new phone and in fact will be making some sort of switch once my prepaid phone runs out of unused minutes... here in a week or so. This plan to switch over has me doing a little digging as I try to decide what I should expect from my provider... and from my phone!

I prefer to pay most of my bills online, but it's also nice to have the option to pay in person. I don't really care for paying via snail mail. It doesn't feel as secure to me. Also... I wonder later if and when the payment will be received... and that makes me crazy! I've had a couple bad experiences there! So... I really appreciate that Boost Mobile gives you three payment options. You can manage your payments online, in person, or by phone. What's more, you can sign up for automatic payments... if that's more your cup of tea.

If you're covering the bill for a friend or family member, you'll have no trouble at all paying for services on their account. I also like that Boost Mobile would allow me to stay connected with my friends and family through Facebook and Twitter. This is a feature that even a 38 year old mom like myself has come to appreciate... especially Facebook. I love having access to my friend's news and prayer requests at all hours of the day. Feeling connected is such a huge deal!

If you're into added incentives...  the Re-Boost plan will reward you with a $20 credit just for signing up for automatic payments. Those auto payments can be accepted through your debit or credit card and will give you one less thing to worry about.

Maybe you're looking for a smart phone... like a  Blackberry for instance? Boost Mobile is offering this awesome phone for just $149.99! You'll have access to emails, a web browser, and an enhanced MP3 player. Of course you'd also have a digital camera and a full QWERTY keypad... that would really be nice... especially since I just very recently discovered how fun it is to text... and what a time saver too. Perfect for a busy mom compared to making phone calls to share quick information with her contacts.

10 Ways for Homeschooling Moms to Maintain a Healthy Balance

What do I mean? Well... if you're not careful to strike a healthy balance between work and play (and by that I mean time for yourself) you could end your semester... possibly even your first week feeling deflated. I know this from experience!

I also know what can make your homeschooling journey a more enjoyable event... day after day. So... here are just a few suggestions from one "former-homeschooling mom" (and one who hopes to homeschool again soon) to anyone and anyone currently living out that dream!

1. Join a homeschooling community.

• It gets you and the kids out of the house
• It gives your kids a social outlet
• It gives YOU a social outlet!
• It adds variety to your day, lessons, and perhaps even gives your kids a chance to learn from other homeschooling parents. Maybe someone in your group is a seamstress and you're not! lol 

2. Plan a field trip at least once a week

• It adds more life to your lessons
• It gets you out of the house (again!)
• It gives your kids a chance to stretch their legs, breath some fresh air, and appreciate the freedom that comes with being a homeschooled kid!
• It's fun to watch other adults point and say, "shouldn't they be in school?"

3. Get involved with something outside the house that has nothing to do with homeschooling... or children

• It gives you a chance to unwind, recharge, and focus on something completely different
• It gets you out of the house (yes... this was a huge issue for me! lol)
• It makes you a better mom and teacher when you come back home :)

4. Eat Well

• If mom isn't feeling strong and healthy, the learning environment will not be all it should be... be sure to get your daily 5 of fruits and veggies, eat plenty of protein, and be sure to take your vitamins!
• Don't fall into the trap of eating convenience foods to save time. Slow down, pace yourself and make as many of your meals from scratch as you can. Make your healthy eating habits part of your homeschooling study. Teach your children now how essential a healthy diet is... even for mom!

5. Go on regular dates with your husband

• It's healthy for your marriage and for your children who are learning what a relationship should look like by watching yours!
• It gives you a break from house and home and let's face it, when you're home you're pretty much on duty until everyone is asleep. Even afterwords, you're likely up planning lessons, folding laundry and trying to catch your breath. 
• It's fun and we all need to have fun once in awhile. 
• It makes it easier to remember that you're married and not just in a business relationship or roommates with that man who comes to the dinner table every night. lol This reminder is good for him too. ; )

6. Take a daily walk with a friend

• It can be an outlet for FREE therapy! lol Find a friend who gets your stuff and find a time in the evening to walk together. You'd be surprised what 2 miles can do for your mind, body and spirit! Uh... and your legs!
• It makes you feel like a real person... having a friend you can spend a few minutes with each day will make you feel younger, happier, and will give you a greater sense of wellness.
• Oh... and it will get you out of the house!

7. Make Friday afternoons movie time for you and the kids

• We called it movie day... it was something we all looked forward to! Grab that favorite DVD you've watched 100 times, or something you just picked up at a RedBox and pop up some popcorn. Close those books and have some family time in front of the boobtube! 
• It's healthy, fun, and it just feels good to kick back. 

8. Join a Bible study or find a good devotional you can do solo

• I'm a different person when I'm in the Word on a daily basis. With the stress and chaos of being a wife, mom and teacher, I can't imagine not spending time with my Savior! He's my parachute when I'm crashing, my rock when I'm sinking, my anchor when I'm drifting and I wouldn't be a tenth of the woman I am today if I didn't know Him! A group study can be very rewarding, but if you can't find one, there are countless devotions and studies available at your local bookstore. :)
• It's as important as diet and exercise... actually more so! Feed your soul and you'll never go hungry!

9. Give yourself a bedtime and stick to it

• It's not recommended for adults to sleep less than 8 hours a night
• It boosts your immune system and will improve your mood
• It sets a good example for your children
• If you don't have a planned bedtime, you could very easily stay up all night working on your computer, grading papers, preparing a lesson, or managing previously unattended to chores. Problem is, you won't be at your best when your kids need you! Ask yourself what's more important and draw a line. It's ok... you can do it!
• You deserve a good night's rest! Seriously..  you do. :)

10. Keep a journal or start a blog

• It's healthy to share (even with yourself) your ambitions, struggles, joys and triumphs
• It's fun to read later
• Writing is a good creative outlet
• It can be done in just a few minutes a day and is all yours... meaning it's all for you... your thoughts, maybe even your prayers. 
• As with walking and talking with a friend, this is a great form of therapy and it's free (minus the paper and ink)! If you blog on Blogger... it's 100% free (minus the internet connection fees! lol)

Ok... these are my suggestions. I'm sure I'll think of more. I always think of things I'd wished I'd said after I'm done writing. In any case, I highly recommend these 10 tips! If you can make them happen... then I say Make Them Happen!

Best Wishes and Happy Homeschooling!

Another Way to Make Money From Home? Do You Have a Talent?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of GigHour. All opinions are 100% mine.

I just learned about a new website offering visitors a platform for selling services online. Could be anything too... if you have something to offer, an area of expertise or talent... it might just be worth money to someone else.

At Gig Hour, you post your gig and wait for the fish to bite. If someone hires you, you'll be paid via PayPal. You can use your real name, or come up with something unique and completely anonymous (this would be my suggestion). Either way, this might just be another way to bring in a few extra dollars each month. I currently have my hands in 7 different online revenue sources and have found spreading myself out that way very beneficial. I'm not getting rich mind you, but I've been blessed to earn enough to pay for the loose ends at the end of the month! What a blessing. So... this would be avenue #8! lol What am I qualified to help people with? Hmmm... I'll have to think on that for awhile.

On the flip side... maybe you need help solving a mathematical equation or translating a line of text from Chinese to English. If that's the case, you may find someone at Gig Hour available to help you. This could be a great tool to students looking for a little help online too!

What about all those bloggers out there reading this post. Has this occurred to you yet... you could use this service to look for blog writers, if you're a busy blogger fresh out of ideas. Maybe you're a blogger looking for work? Share your interest in providing a little of your writing talent with others. It's worth a try!


While you ponder the possibilities... check out their site!

A Friendly Reminder to WebMasters "Borrowing" My Posts Without My Permission

If you enjoy something you've read here, nothing could please me more! If you'd like to share "that something" in part or in it's entirety with your own readers (meaning word for word, rather than in your own words... or through my feed) and publish to your own site without giving me credit, that is wrong.

I work hard to produce original content for this blog, and when you take my live feed, or copy and paste my blog posts (my exact words) and pop them into your own blog or website as though it's your own work, you're actually creating a competition between my blog and yours within Google's indexing system. The worst part? My posts are competing against one another and if you have a higher page rank, you'll potentially get the traffic that should be mine. Not cool.

If you're a visitor or regular reader to The Homeschooling Blog (and btw, if you're reading this and there is anything other than a header reading "The Homeschooling Blog" at the top of the page, the site you are viewing is sharing this post without my permission. I have never given anyone permission to take my posts and share (without credit or a linkback to my own site). Actually, even with a linkback, I've only once  given this type of permission.

I apologize for this... both to my readers and to the website or blog publishers who may not realize what they're doing is damaging to my blog. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt at this time. Please remove my feed and/or stop copy and pasting my posts (my work) to your site(s).

Finally, if you find yourself reading this post and realizing you're not on The Homeschooling Blog's website, please let me know? Follow this link: Homeschooling, and you'll find the real me!

God bless!

Essential Fixtures for Your Home School

Some homeschoolers are blessed with that extra room in their home that can be transformed into a fully functioning (a stagnant) classroom.... equipped with such perks as a dry erase board (or chalk board), educational posters and charts, world maps, nicely organized drawers and shelving, and desks for everyone.Wouldn't that be amazing? I can only imagine!

Others of us have kitchen tables and a classroom on wheels that makes its way to said table each and every day. lol Either way, storage and organization is always an issue. It's really a challenge trying to keep everything in order, looking nice and well kept... living in that "everything has its place" moment day after day.

Whether you're one of those lucky homeschooling families with a designated classroom, or have what most of us have... a little bit of homeschooling here... and a little bit of homeschooling there... there are a few things every homeschooler needs to stay organized.

May I first suggest a a good filing cabinet... preferably with a separate drawer for each child? When we were starting out, I used boxes to store papers in and it about drove me mad. I couldn't find anything... neither could my kids. Easily accessing plans, papers, reports, worksheets, grades and anything and everything you'll find yourself printing from the Internet will save you oodles of time and is guaranteed to keep you in good spirits. 

A roomy bookcase, with shelves that everyone can reach is a definite plus. If you have shelves that extend higher than their little hands can stretch, consider bolting the bookcase to your wall. When I was around 10 years old, I had a top heavy bookcase filled with books topple over on me and a friend. This can also happen when kids try to crawl up a bookcase... a set of dresser drawers, or even a television stand. Safety first!

Of course you'll need a table, and/or desks to accommodate your lessons! Try to find something that is sized to your student. If your child is not sitting correctly for long periods of time, or at the appropriate distance between chair and table,  he could develop back or neck problems... or a cramped hand. I proper fit also makes a huge difference when it comes to neatness in handwriting.

You'll want to have storage units for your school supplies too... things like measuring tools, pencils and crayons, loose paper for writing, dry erase markers, index cards, stickers, and anything else you find yourself using. To make things super simple to keep organized, buy an inexpensive labeling device and label each of your drawers. This is so worth the time... everyone will know exactly what lives where! We use those plastic drawer systems you find at Walmart. They work well, although they're not the prettiest things to have around. lol

Finally... if you can swing it, purchase a good size chalk board or dry erase board that can either find a permanent place on your wall, or the type that has a supporting stand. Make sure your kids and you can both reach the board. Also, be sure everyone can see it. Try to have the board front and center when teaching, so your kiddos are comfortably learning and more apt to listen to what you have to share!

Canadian Personalities Share Their Passions... What is Yours?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Haagen Dazs. All opinions are 100% mine.

We all have passions in life and Haagen-Dazs (you know the yummy ice cream people?) is preparing to share some of the great passions of your favorite Canadian personalities (such as chefs, musicians and designers) through the PASSION PROFILES. What is that you ask? It's an online video series which will feature designer and HGTV star Sarah Richardson tomorrow, Wednesday, August 11th.

More specifically the Passion Profiles is a talk-show hosted by Canada's Cheryl Hickey and features the intense and demanding lifestyles of individuals living in overdrive for creating, performing, succeeding and giving all they have to the passion that fuels them. Additionally... wouldn't you like to know what inspires them? 

So, what are you passionate about? If you were to star on this show, what would we be seeing you do? Where would you take us and what would you do to inspire us? I'm passionate about people. I don't know that I could prepare a script or even come up with a plan for how to share that with an audience... it's just something that happens and could only be captured in a reality-style show, where a camera followed me throughout the day, but hey.. that's not an invitation! lol

I'm also passionate about design... well, as it pertains to cake decorating! lol I'm a decorator by hobby... LOVE to sculpt and mold fondant, fan out the buttercream on a cake, and watch a scene straight from my imagination take a tangible form. For that passion, I'd say I find my inspiration through my children... by watching them play, seeing what they draw, what they respond to on television and in music and watching their little eyes grow big when they see what mommy has made. They're my best critic, fan!

Take a moment and visit the Passion Profiles at www.passionprofiles.ca and find a little inspiration from a few successfully passionate personalities!

If You'd Like to Win Teacher Supplies

I almost typed "school" supplies, but that usually implies they're for you children... or at least it would to me! This particular giveaway is for you the teacher and/or mom and is being sponsored/hosted by "Waddlee-ah-chaa"... ok, had to look at that name a few times to be sure I was spelling it right! lol Totally appreciate the uniqueness of the blog title though (and it's sorta fun to say out loud). If you love homeschooling blogs, you'll want to take a peak!

To enter the giveaway, jump on over, read through the post announcing the giveaway, which has to do with every homeschooler's messy challenge... getting organized! It's a great post, filled with many many photos and who doesn't love a blog post filled with colorful photos!

Enter by just supplying your organizational tip, or just saying hi, and do so no later than 8:00 pm, Central Standard Time, August 12th, 2010... this means do it now! LOL

If You're a Homeschooling or Mommy Blogger... Check Out Blog Copy

Most of my readers are homeschoolers (unsurprisingly!) and a big chunk of those homeschoolers are also bloggers. If that's you... you're likely doing all that you can to increase your readership, perhaps as a means of income, perhaps out of love for sharing what you know with others.

Whatever you're reasons may be, you no doubt can appreciate the value in knowing what draws readers. More precisely, what are they taking with them when they go? Blog Copy will allow you to track this very behavior. That being, the act of copying information from your site for later reference.  With this knowledge, you'll better understand what your readers find appealing. What's more, this service is 100% free!

So... ok, I just registered this blog and I'm anxious to see what I can learn about the behavior of readers like you! lol Could be fun, right? lol At the very least, it's simple to register and quick to get started! I'm all about that. :)

Kids Going to College? Considered Renting Textbooks?

I stumbled onto this money-saving website today and found the idea quite appealing. Despite the fact that my own kids are many years away from leaving the nest and heading to a University... finding ways to save money when they do... gets me excited. lol It's like Benjamin Franklin once said... "A penny saved is a penny earned". I'm a firm believer in this philosophy.

So, the site is: www.BookRenter.com and they're all about renting college textbooks, w/ free shipping (both ways) and for those of you who've attended college level courses, you know just how expensive those books are. You can easily spend $1000 a year just on textbooks... no joke.

I've never used this site personally... I think I was on Kommando.com when I found it... Kim Kommando's website (self-proclaimed digital goddess! lol).

Let me know if it works for you!

Sharing the Homeschooler Cafe's Giveaway

So... because I love CSN Stores, and because my son would totally LOVE to have the Fearfully and Wonderfully made Science models... I'm naturally entering the Homeschooler Cafe's giveaway! My son... is an anatomy nut... as he is most anything he finds interesting. I'd love to surprise him with anything from this series of models. It would occupy him for hours. I can see him now... sitting with his anatomy book in one hand a model in the other. lol

If you're like me and want to take a stab at winning this model set... visit the Homeschooler Cafe and enter as many ways as are available to you. It's totally worth your time... trust me!

Finally, a special thanks to Janet from Homeschooler Cafe, for commenting on my blog and sharing this giveaway! Glad you found me and glad I found you! :)

Box Tops for Education and Homeschoolers

Did you know that certain homeschooling organizations can participate in the Box Tops for Education program? Here is the skinny straight from the horses mouth:

"The Box Tops for Education program is available to any accredited public, private or parochial school, for grades K-8, in the United States that is organized and primarily operated for educational purposes; U.S. military schools, K-8, worldwide; and accredited home school associations, K-8, in the United Sates that are organized and operated primarily for educational purposes and have 15 or more students." -BoxTops for Education

What this means is that no you can't benefit directly as a homeschooling family, but if you have an accredited home school organization, you can and should apply. It doesn't even have to be a large association. Do you belong to a homeschooling group that operates primarily for educational purposes that could become accredited? Perhaps a teaching co-op? I'd say it's worth doing some research and maybe a little paperwork!


If you don't belong to a group that might qualify for the program I'd like to encourage you to collect your box tops anyway and either donate them to an accredited homeschooling organization that does participate or find a local school to support. Find out if the school in your district participates... they'd love to have them. These box tops are worth cash in the hands of schools and with the state our economy is in, every little bit helps.Just be sure to donate your tops before they expire!


There are dozens of participating brands/products that carry the Box Tops for Education coupons and most you probably use everyday. I found this extensive list on their site: Participating Products.


If you're looking for a homeschooling association participating in the program, do a quick Google search. I'm sure whomever you find would love to hear from you! At 10 cents a top, these little babies can quickly add up. The public school down the street from us reports it brings in hundreds of dollars every year from Box Tops... and to think, my family used to always toss them. They're so easy to collect and donate... which is exactly what we now do!

So... a Couple Months Ago I Backed Our Van into a Trash Can

Yes, it was a proud moment indeed. Especially when I had the displeasure of explaining to my husband just how this happened. It was a mommy moment that involved me backing from my drive (naturally on trash day) with my head fully turned towards my back window (as any good driver would do), only to become distracted by my 7 year old daughter sitting in her car seat with a backpack full of art supplies. The problem was she was wearing it! lol So, was she in her seat right? No. Was her seat belt functional? No. Just as I was saying "try again", I hit the trash can. Nice. We apparently have very stout trash cans too, because it didn't move an inch. What did move was my passenger side tail light. 

Here is a photo of my tail light (with plastic and tape folded back) so you can see what it looked like after I picked up the pieces and fit them back together. Most of the top portion of the assembly was cracked and laying in my driveway.

Today I finally decided to take that leap and order the replacement tail light online. The risk to me in doing so, is that I'll have a fun (SCARY) little project once that part arrives! lol

On the one hand I'm thrilled that I could find the tail light online for less than $50 with shipping. On the other hand, I'm sorta regretting that I told my husband I'd take care of it! lol So... can you imagine Lucille Ball from I Love Lucy trying to change a tail light? That's sorta what I'm fearful of. That my neighbors will videotape the embarrassing adventures of Wendy and her tail light and post it on YouTube! lol My 15 minutes of fame could just be days away.

Why did I agree to take care of this? I hate paying anyone for a service (or should I say overpaying for a service) so by nature I first look to either doing it myself or suckering a friend into helping me. This time around after careful inspection of the cracked tail light, I'm fairly confident that I can tackle this job. Would you like me to post photos later? teehee Will you cheer me on?

I ordered the part from RacePages.com after doing just enough research online to realize they had the best price. Then I found a coupon code from Retailmenot.com for 10% off, so of course was delighted. The entire price with shipping and handling was just under $50. I'll let you know how RacePages does (from a consumer's perspective). ; )

Because this lil' story of mine resembles the start of a review... I just want to share:

I'm not receiving any compensation for this (potential) review, either monetarily or through a product exchange. This review was unsolicited by the producer/manufacturer and was initiated solely by me. Any merchandise or supplies were purchased through my own pocketbook.

What Does C-O-M-P-U-L-S-I-V-E Spell?

"Ordinary Time" Guest Blogger....

Sometimes teaching one’s children at home leads to the saying of things that seem rather ridiculous. Over the past 24 hours, I have found myself forbidding, yes, forbidding, various children to stop doing math and to stop trying to read. To explain, I need to back up a bit.

I can be a tad bit very compulsive. If I start in on a project, I tend to want to work on it obsessively until I either complete it or I run out of steam. This can drive my family to distraction since when in one of these phases I can often focus on little else. It shouldn’t be a surprise then, when my children demonstrate the same tendencies.

In the past few days, since returning from our camping trip, there has been a frenzy of academic work going on around here. This has been entirely child motivated. While we ‘do’ school year ‘round, I am pretty relaxed in the summer, and I am definitely still in summer mode. Not so my children. They evidently feel the need to prepare for the coming academic year: two daughters by working until they drop so they can start the next math book and one son by being able to read chapter books unassisted.

This is why I found myself this morning, before even being dressed or having the requisite cups of coffee, being followed by a string of children all begging for my assistance. “How do I do this math problem?” “What does s-u-r-e spell?” “How many problems should I do on this page?” “What does w-h-i-s-t-l-e spell?” “I forgot how to add fractions, how do I do it?” “What does t-h-r-o-u-g-h spell?” To write it out, it seems somewhat civilized, but you have to imagine hearing multiple questions all at once. It could also not be escaped. Moving to a different room only meant the cacophony followed along.

By the time lunch rolled around, fatigue (the children’s, not mine) was starting to take its toll. There were tears over fractions and tears over big words that my son was sure he would never be able to learn to read. I had to put a stop to it all; their brains were full. Food and rest were what was needed. This is when I found myself forbidding math and reading to be worked on. No one could take anymore (and here I include myself).

But this is what I love about homeschooling. My children are free to learn how they learn best. If my son learns to read by immersing himself in books for hours at a time, he can. My daughter can work as far ahead in her math book as she desires. And it also allows us the freedom to pay attention to our emotions. Sometimes our brains do the best learning when doing something else. After filling them up, time is needed to process what has been put in. We can take a three hour recess if we need to. And sometimes we really need to.

~"E."

Visit this guest blogger at:

www.ordinary-time.blogspot.com